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You are here: Home / Forensics / Detecting DNA

Detecting DNA

July 15, 2020 By Alice

DNA double helix
DNA double helix

In the post I wrote about Gina Renee Hall, I mentioned that her sister Diane “was introduced to Dr. Arpad Vass, a forensic anthropologist who had invented an instrument to detect DNA buried beneath the surface. Since then, Gina’s remains have been discovered across eight locations throughout the New River Valley using that device.”

Vass’ website states that the “United States Patent office approved his patent for the INQUISITOR in July 2018.” Vass mentions that he can find your ancestor’s grave by taking DNA from beneath fingernails and placing it in his machine. His Inquisitor was critiqued by Andrea Lankford. I received email information from a reader who said indeed, grave detection by odor is possible. However, DNA matching from a distance is not.

The patent Dr. Vass describes is a detector that can be used to find DNA and he claims 85% accuracy. Now compare this with the following. Dr. Vass is working for or with a company called AvaSensor. They develop explosive detecting technology. “To date, we have consistently been able to remotely detect the presence of small samples of gunpowder and plastic explosives including C-4 and C-2, those samples either concealed on the person of an approaching individual or in luggage or containers carried or conveyed by that approaching individual.” That is fantastic, I mean it. Everything to keep us all safe, I really appreciate that. But the description does not mention DNA or detecting DNA below ground level.

Thanks to my reader, we have a patent filed by the same team members on the AvaSensor leadership page. You can find the patent here and more here. If I understand the abstract correctly, and I am not an engineer, then this device detects by using electromagnetic signatures.

Is this the Inquisitor as mentioned before on Dr. Vass’ website? If so then it would follow that this is the device that finds undetected graves. Then this is the device that finds DNA even under ground with 85% levels of accuracy. Was this used to find Gina’s remains?

If you click here and scroll, you see the device drawings. You can move the bar below the images. Now look to the right: it says patent application abandoned. If you abandon the patent application, you probably have encountered either malfunctions, or you didn’t reach levels of accuracy, etc. Then, why use it in a case where people can potentially get hurt because they get their hopes up?

patent application abandoned

I really wish for my forensic science friends to weigh in: can you detect DNA below ground levels using electromagnetic signatures with 85% accuracy?

Again, I am not accusing Dr. Vass of anything but I do am highly confused and can use some clarity. I have never heard of detecting DNA below ground levels with electromagnetic technology. I have only heard of DNA samples being taken to a laboratorium to be compared by lab technicians to see if the profiles match to an accepted probability level to the exclusion of other profiles. In my mind, finding a DNA match is done in labs and not with a handheld device in the field. Correct me if I am wrong.

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Filed Under: Forensics Tagged With: DNA, Forensics, profiling

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Since 2009, I write about unsolved cases that need renewed media attention. I only do research and leave active investigations to the authorities.

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Thank you,

Alice de Sturler
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